Body Aches & Pains
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Understanding the Complexity of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep disturbances, memory issues, and tenderness in specific areas. Despite its prevalence, it remains one of the most enigmatic conditions in the medical community. This article will delve deep into what fibromyalgia is, the populations most affected, potential causes, and the treatment options available. What is Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that affects the musculoskeletal system. Patients with this condition often experience pain throughout their body, along with other symptoms like fatigue, cognitive disturbances, and sleep issues. This pain is often described as a constant dull ache that lasts for at least three months. For a…
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How Sitting Contributes to Back Pain
Whether you’re at work, at school, or live a sedentary lifestyle, research has shown that sitting for extended amounts of time has been linked to a number of health concerns, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar levels. According to a series of studies, those who sat for longer than 8 hours per day without any kind of physical activity were at as high a risk of dying compared to those who died from obesity and smoking-related illness (such as lung cancer.) Data from that same study, however, also showed that getting as little as 60 minutes of moderate exercise per day actually countered the effects…
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Cholesterol-Lowering Tips
We all need a little bit of cholesterol. Cholesterol is important in building the structure of our cell membranes, as well as the creation of adrenal hormones and hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, in addition to the production of vitamin D and helping our metabolism. However, it’s also possible to have too much cholesterol in the blood, which can stick to the walls of your arteries and cause them to become narrow or blocked, then increasing your risk of developing coronary artery disease. Essentially, high cholesterol can have quite the domino effect on your health. There are two main types of cholesterol: LDL (known as the “bad” cholesterol) and…
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Common Conditions that Affect the Joints
The joints are what form the connections between your bones and provide your body with support as well as help you move. When your joints become damaged, that movement is interfered and can result in pain. As for what causes damage to the joints, there are a number of reasons – though the most common include disease or injury. Below we take a look at a few of the specific joint-related diseases and injuries in depth, and what you can do to prevent them or find relief. Osteoarthritis OA is one of the most common disorders of the joints that people are diagnosed with. It occurs when the cartilage between…
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What to Do About Post-Exercise Muscle Pain
Exercise is something we should all engage in in order to stay healthy. By getting regular physical activity, we reap a lot of benefits associated with it. It can help with weight loss, can decrease fatigue, can reduce your risk of developing a chronic disease (such as diabetes and heart disease), can boost brain health, improve your memory and mood, and can even help the skin. It’s also great for your bones and muscles. However, if you’re someone who is more used to living a sedentary lifestyle and not used to exercise, then it’s not uncommon for your muscles to feel sore after a workout. In many cases, it may…
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Understanding Inflammation
When Canadians think of inflammation, we often think of it as damage to the body that causes pain and swelling, and even infection. While this is true to a certain extent, inflammation is actually the body’s natural response to something it perceives to be harmful. So while infection is oftentimes easily associated with inflammation, inflammation does not necessarily mean an infection is present. Inflammation occurs by releasing chemicals from the white blood cells, which assists in protecting the body from and removing any damaged pathogens, cells or other irritants. A bacterium, fungus or virus causes infection, and inflammation is simply the body’s response to it. When inflammation is present, this…